Election game



Nov. 4, 1941. w. H. WRlGHT 2,261,709

ELECTION GAME Filed June 15, 1940 Mama: l7 Q [gm \v/IJ/ wn- I I A zrcmnqaannaana 4741,04 a;

INVENTOR M'lizkzmfi'. Wight- ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTION GAME William H. Wright, Larchmont, N. Y. Application June 15, 1940, Serial No. 340,626

(01. ave- 10s) Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an election game.

The invention contemplates the construction of a game which is characterized by a board having a plurality of ridges on its top face dividing ofi separate areas through which small balls may be rolled by tilting the board, and it is proposed that said ridges have cutout sections through which the balls may pass from one of said areas to another whereby balls of different colors may be placed on the board and a game played which essentially consists in utilizing ones skill to cause certain of the balls to reach certain of the areas.

More specifically, the invention proposes to arrange the plurality of ridges in concentric an-. nular formation. It is proposed that the cutout areas of the various ridges be staggered in relation to each other.

Furthermore, the invention contemplates the provision of obstacles along said areas for obstructing the free passage of the balls, to increase the skill necessary in winning the game.

Still further the invention proposes a modification in which the ridges are made of separate pieces of material from the board and which they may operate in a certain fashion to control the cutout sections to increase the skill necessary in winning the game.

For further comprehension of the invention, and for the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is an elevational view of an election game constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of an election game constructed in accordance with another form of this invention.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of an election game constructed in accordance with a still further modification of this invention.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line Ii-B of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 'I'I of Fig. 6.

The election game, in accordance with this invention, comprises a board I0 having a plurality arate areas I2, I3 and I4 through which small balls may be rolled by tilting the board. The ridges I I comprise several concentric groups of ridges II and II formed with cutout sections 24 through which the balls previously mentioned may pass from one of the areas to another. A plurality of different colored balls I5 are disposed upon the top of the board Ill and upon the areas previously mentioned.

The board III has a raised peripheral area III across which a sheet of glass I6 is disposed. This sheet of glass is held at its edges by a frame II mounted upon the edge portions of the board III. The board I0 preferably comprises a block of Wood. The ridges 'II are formed by cutting into the top face of this block of wood. The plate of glass I6 is close enough to the top ,of the ridges II to prevent the balls I5 from passing over the ridges. Preferably, the ridges are of triangular form in transverse cross section.

The operation of the election game is as follows:

Each of the differently colored balls may indicate the different presidential nomination. The game is played by first tilting the board I0 so as to cause all of the balls I5 to be disposed in one area, for example, the outer area I4. Then a player starts and he is timed. The object is to select one of the colored balls representing his preference in the election, and he tilts the board Ill attempting to get his particularly colored ball into the central area I2. If he succeeds in doing this in a certain time he scores. Inthis way different players may compete with each other.

In Figs. 3 and 4 another embodiment of the invention has been disclosed which distinguishes from the prior form merely in the fact that there are obstacles in the areas through which the balls pass. More specifically, these obstacles are in the form of small pieces of friction material I8 embedded at different points of the areas so that the top faces of the friction material are aligned with the top faces of the areas. When the balls I5 are being rolled through the areas by tilting, their speed and direction will be affected by the friction material I8. This friction material I8 may comprise felt or sheet rubber.

In Figs. 5-7 inclusive another form of the invention has been disclosed which is similar to the first form, distinguishing in the fact that the ridges II are constructed of material separate from the board III. Each of the sections comprising the ridges II' has a base portion II of ridges II on its top face I0 dividing ofi seppassing through a slot 20 formed in the mate- These concentric ridges arerial of the board Ill. The slots 20 extend into openings or slots 2| formed in the material of the board I0. Weight strips 22 are attached to the base portions H and are disposed in the slots 2|. The bottom extremities of the slots 2| are plugged with strips 23.

The base portions H and weights 22 are of a smaller length than the lengths of the slots 2| (see Fig. '7) so that the individual ridges ll may shift through small distances. The adjacent ends ll and ll of adjacent ridges comprise the cut away sections 24 through which the balls I5 must pass. In other respects this form of the invention is similar to the previous form and like parts are identified by corresponding reference numerals.

The operation of this form of'the invention consists in tilting the board 10' so as to cause the balls l5 to roll through the various areas,

and simultaneously shaking and so manipulating eration. The game is played substantially the a same as previously described. The players attempt to cause one of the colored balls IE to reach a selected area from some prior selected area.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is: i

1. An election game, comprising a board having a plurality of ridges on its top face dividing off separate areas through which small balls may be rolled by tilting the board, and said ridges having cutout sections through which the balls may pass from one of said areas to another, a plurality of different colored balls on said board, said ridges being of material separate from the board and having base portions engaging into slots formed in the board, said slots being of slightly greater length than said base portions so that the ridges may slide towards and away from each other,;and weights attached to said base portions and mounted within slots formed in said board. I

2. In an election game, a board, a plurality of arcuate ridges arranged in concentric circles and positioned on the top face of saidboard to have unobstructed passages between adjacent ends thereof connecting separate areas divided off by said ridges through which balls may be rolled by tilting said board, a plurality of balls on said board, and means for shiftably holding said ridges in position on said board to cause ridges on the same circumference. to move towards and away from each other as said board is tilted to vary the size of'the passages between adjacent endsi of said ridges.

3. In an election game, a board, a plurality of ridges positioned on the top face of said board to have unobstructed passages between adjacent ends thereof connecting separate areas divided off by said ridges through which balls may be rolled by tilting said board, a plurality of balls on said board, and means for shiftably holding said ridges in position on said board to move towards and away from each other as said board is tilted to vary the size of the passages between adjacent ends of said ridges, comprising downwardly extending base portions formed on the bottom face of said ridges and freely engaging through elongated slots formed in said board, and means for retaining said downwardly extending base portions in position in said slots and for adding to the weight of said ridges to insure shifting of said ridges as said board is tilted.

4'. In an election game, a board, a plurality of ridges positioned on the top face of said board to have unobstructed passages between adjacent ends thereof connecting separate areas divided off by said ridges through which balls maybe rolled by tilting said board, a plurality of balls on said board, and means for shiftably holding said ridges in position on said board to move towards and away from each other as said board is tilted to vary the size of the passages between adjacent ends of said. ridges, comprising downwardly extending base portions formed on the bottom face of said ridges and freely engaging through elongated slots formed in said board, and means for retaining said downwardly extending base portions in position in said slots and for adding to the weight of said ridges to insure shifting of said ridges as said board is tilted,

comprising weights mounted on the bottom ends of said base portions and of a width greater than the width of said slots.

5. In an election game, a board, a plurality of ridges positioned on the top face of said board to have unobstructed passages between adjacent ends thereof connecting separate areas divided oil by said ridges through which balls may be rolled by tilting said board, a plurality of balls on said board, and means for shiftably holding said ridges in position on said board to move towards and away from each other as said board is tilted to vary the size-of the passages between adjacent ends of said ridges, comprising downwardly extending base portions formed on the bottomface of said ridges and freely engaging through elongated slots formed in said board, and means for retaining said downwardly extending base portions in position in said slots and for adding to the weight of said ridges to insure shifting of said ridges as said board is tilted, said base portion being shorter than the length. of said ridges, said slots being longer than said base portion but shorter than said ridges to permit shifting and. still insure the covering of the ends of said slots by the ends of said ridges in all possible shifted positions.

WILLIAM H. WRIGHT. 

